Meeting our boys 1 year ago

One year ago today (well actually yesterday but I didn't post this is time) we met our precious boys for the first time. We were so incredibly excited to see and touch what we had fallen in love with a month prior. I'd be lying if I said that the first meeting was this magical moment to where the boys just knew that Daddy and Mama were there. It wasn't like that at all truthfully. They brought the boys into the room while we were in the middle of talking to the doctor. So we sat there for a few moments watching them in awe pulling out toys and playing quietly. We we completely oblivious to anything the doc said...we were seeing or sons for the first time. The boys were quite disconnected from us to say the least...which was hard, but that is part of the process. It took a while before they would let us play with them but before long they opened up to us ever so slightly. I think back on this day one year ago then I think about how far we have come. I stand so in awe of God and all that he has done to get us where we are today. One year ago today, we hugged our boys and truthfully it was like hugging a board. This very morning I got woke up by one crawling in the bed saying "Mama, I need you to snuggle me." There is nothing like coming home from work to two precious boys running, almost knocking me down to get hugs.

God is amazing! I have no other words than just that...God is amazing!

Here is a couple of pics from our the day that we first met our boys:

This was the expression that we got for the first 2 days. There were some occasional smiles, but they were hard to come across.

This is now. (yes I am aware there is a Christmas tree and it is Oct...but I needed a Christmas pic and I just love it...don't judge:)

6 months ago....

Six months ago today we stepped back on US soil with two of the most precious miracles ever. Yes, our two boys are miracles. They have blessed us far more than we ever deserve and they have brought an incredible amount of love and joy to our lives. We are ever so thankful that the Lord chose those children to be our children.
We sat down last night and watched some of our video from our time in Russia and it blew my mind as of to how much they have grown and changed. Noah was pretty much non-verbal when we brought him home. We immediately got him speech therapy and after only 8 sessions he has been discharged. This child is speaking full sentences. He was truly a grumpy little fella when we first met him but he is the sweetest and most loving little thing now. He keeps us laughing.
Daniel was considered severly speech delayed when we brought him home, not he speaks full English (he does still have an adorable accent) but his speech has been amazing. He was such a sad, solemn little boy when we first met him. Now he is full of personality. He is a very considerate and loving child who wants to please you constantly. He has become an amazing big brother. These boys are our hearts. We love them more than words can everdescribe.
I have to think back to when we first recieved our referral on them. There were some pretty major concerns medically and developmentally. We had doctors here in the states tell us that they thought that both had multiple sclerosis and that we should seriously reconsider accepting them. I remeber looking at Benji and saying....I don't care what is wrong with them. Those are our children and we have to get them home. He whole heartedly agreed and four months later...they became our sons.
Here are a few pictures of where they were when we first got back to them and some now.

No more leggings and flowered sandals!

No more looking at the world from an orhanage window


No more visiting room in an orphanage

God's grace is AMAZING!

No more quiet solemn little boys...we are full of personality and excitement now!! They are little hams that love pretty much anything and everything.

Family Beach trip

Let me begin by apologizing for being such a crummy blogger. I know it has been over a month...shame on me. I will do better, I promise. I have a lot of catching up to do so stay tuned but for now I have some pics to share from our trip to the beach. My family does a family beach trip every year. Benji and I were so excited to take the boys to their first annual beach trip. For days Daniel asked "We going to the beach today?" He was super excited. They boys had a blast (as did we). It was so good to have some time with my parents (thank you guys so much for making this vacation happen every year!) and my sister and her family. Daniel could not wait to see his best fwiend (cousin) Nathan, and Noah wanted to see Jenn (our niece) who of course is a gorgeous girl...the boy loves his women. Here is a few pics from our trip:


My Precious boys




Benji the boys and I

My parents and their grandkids

My sweet Nephew Nathan with an alligator

Noah holding the gator (saying "too heaby")
Daniel with the gator

Me and my Noah Bear

Me and my Danny Boy

Daniel and Daddy on their first deep sea fishing trip

Daddy and Noah at the ocean The Lord has blessed us beyond measure

The things they say

We are so amazed at how well the boys are speaking. Daniel now speaks full and clear English. Noah, who was almost non-verbal when we got him, had speech therapy for a couple months and is already being discharged because he is right where he should be. He is speaking full sentences! We truely could not be more proud of them and how far they have come. They amaze us everyday and Benji and I are so blessed to have them as our sons.

These boys keep us laughing. The things that they can come up with are hilarious. The other day, I was in my bedroom and they were in the hall outside my door. I heared them debating and it went like this:

Daniel: That's my boo-boo!
Noah: My boo-boo
Daniel: No, it's my boo-boo! It's Daniels boo-boo!
Noah: Nonah's (his version of Noah) boo-boo!
Daniel: (running into my room and pointing to a scrape on his arm) Mama tell Noah that this is my boo-boo...not his!
Me: That is Daniel's boo-boo, Noah has his own boo-boo on his knee (pointing to Noah's scrape on his knee)
Noah: YAY! Noah boo-boo! (pointing to his own knee)
Daniel: I told you this one was mine! (pointing to his elbow)
I just had to laugh. In our house...everything has to be done in 2's. Everything we buy, we buy 2 of the same object....obviously boo-boo's should be no exception.

*Disclaimer: below may be slightly inappropriate...but I am learning that raising boys often is:)

Daniel has this little "dance" he does when he has to go to the potty. He gets caught up in playing and doesn't want to go to the restroom so you will often see this little dance that is usually paired with "holding himself". I often tell him "Daniel, you are holding your wee-wee and go on to the potty". Well..he was doing his little dance last night and I said asked him if he needed to go potty, to which he responded "no maam". I said "are you sure you don't need to go?" To which his repsonse was, "But I'm not holding my wee-wee". Again...I just had to laugh.

Dedication and Birthday Party

This past Sunday we dedicated our boys and had their birthday party. Yes, the party was a little late but we really wanted all of our family there and we waiting so that out of town guests could make it.
My Mama had a beautiful flower arrangement placed in the church in honor of the boys for their dedication and my daddy made bulletins with their pictures and a paragraph from our blog. They were awesome, it just made the dedication all the more special.
My sister made a slideshow of our adoption journey and our music pastor sang "When love takes you in" while the slideshow played. I had Daniel in my lap and I swear by the time the slideshow and song was over, poor little Daniel's head was full of tears and snot.
Our Pastor did an amazing job on the dedication and Uncle Mickey (Benji's bro) closed it out in prayer. Pretty much everyone in both of our families were there for the dedication, as well as several close friends that are like family...which was the icing on top of the cake. We can't thank everyone enough for all the love and support that we felt from everyone. The dedication could not have been more special and perfect to us. It was just a treasured moment in this amazing journey.

After the dedication service, we did a Zoo themed birthday party for the boys. Thank you so much for all that helped. A big thanks to my sister who worked her tail feathers off to help me get it all together. The party was perfect and the boys had a blast. We are so blessed to have such awesome family and friends that have supported us like no other on this journey. It is journeys such as this that you really see where your real support system is...and you really see just how blessed that you are.

Here are a few pics from the day. Thank heavens my cousin came with a camera or else I just may not have had any pics. Thank you Erin! I'll get more pics from her and hopefully post later. Here are a few for now:

The dedication


Daddy and his boys (Mama's fave pic ever!)

Present time

The Candy Buffet and cake table

Blowing out the candles

Happy Birthday Our Precious Noah!

Our Precious baby boy Noah,

We are ever so thankful that just 2 years ago today the Lord brought you into this world. You were not born to us but you were certainly born for us. You are such a special little boy who definitely has the gift of laughter. You have an infectious laughter that brings a smile to those around you (and spares you from trouble from time to time:) Your daddy and I love you so very much. You and your brother have made our lives complete and not a day goes by that we do not thank God for bringing us together. We love you so very much!


Our Prayer for you is this:
In the Bible Noah was a great man of God. He obeyed the Lord and he listened when the Lord spoke. He was faithful in God's calling in his life. Even when the world thought that Noah was a little crazy...he remained faithful to the Lord's instructions. We pray that you always remain faithful to the Lord and you follow his instructions in your life. Don't be afraid to go out on a limb in life just as Noah did. Put all your trust in the Lord as he will forever take care of you. The name Noah means "rest/peace". May you always have peace in your life. The Lord sent Noah a rainbow as his promise. The day that we were headed to pick you and Daniel up...there was a beautiful rainbow in the sky. The Lord had fulfulled his promise to us, and we are blessed beyond measure to have you as our son!

We love you with everything in us,

Daddy and Mama

Zoo trip

This past Saturday we met my BFF and her family for a trip to the zoo. We had a blast. The boys loved the animals. It was quite hot but the boys did fantastic. Here are a few pics of our trip.

Mama and Daniel on the Merry-go-Round.

Noah and his daddy on the Merry-go-Round. I am so blessed:)

The gorilla was sleeping by the glass...this facinated the boys.

Noah was very leary of the goats, Daniel loved feeding them:

And before we got out of the parking lot: